Spring-dampener.



J. F. O'CONNOR.

SPRING DAMPENER,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s. 1916.

m r .V. E, R m W 1. m d w A .W. 5 m J m m g C Y B m $M O Q %N JUHN 1E.WCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T WILLIAM H. MINER, 0F 1 CHMY,NEW YORK.

SPRINGJDAMJPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. a, rare.

hpplication filed september 5, 1916. Serial Ito. llhtlt.

' Chicago, in the county of Cook and State and dampener between thefollowers, said of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Spring-Dampeners, of which the following -is a full,clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in spring dampeners.

The object of the invention is to provide a spring dampener suitable foruse in draft.

riggings or other places where heavy shocks are encountered and whichshall consist of few parts, simply arranged to efiectively minimize therecoil after the pressure on the parts has been released.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is ahorizontal sectional view of a draft riggin showing my improvementsadapted there 'or, the parts being in full release. Fig. 2 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the position of the parts under fullcompression. And

'Fig. 3 is a vertical, transverse sectional View taken on the line 33 ofFig. 1.

In said drawing, 10-10 denote channel, center or draft sills, the samehaving secured to their inner faces rear stops 11 and front stops 12with which cooperate a rear follower 13 and a front follower 14:,respectively. For operating the car, a yoke 15 is provided whichsurround s the followers yoke being riveted or otherwise suitablysecured to a draw bar 16. All the foregoing parts are, or may be, ofwell known or desirable. construction.

The improved spring dampener, which is shown adapted for use in a draftrigging, comprises a pair of oppositely disposed, preferably counterpartcast heads 17-17; plates 1818; a spring 19; and a casing 20. Each of theheads-17 is preferably of substantia'lly cylindrical form, as clearlyindicated in'Fig. 3, and on its inner face is provided with a recess ofparti-cylindrical form with the axis of the cylinder extending in ahorizontal plane at an angle to the axis of the gear. 'This recessdesignated 21 has its bottom face curved as indicated at 22 and against;which bears one of said? plates 18, each of the plates 18; having acorrespond ingly curved outer face 23. The spring 19,

as shown, consists of an outer heavy coil 24:, intermediate coil 25 andinner coil 26, the latter being seated at its ends on suitable bosses 27formed on the inner faces of the .plates 18. The inner faces of each ofthe heads 17 are disposed at an angle to the axis of the gear asindicated at 28, this being done in order to providea larger surface fortheplate 18 to work upon, as will be understood from the position of theparts shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The heads 1717 are surrounded by thecasing 20 which preferably is in the form of a steel tube, said casingoverlapping each of the :heads 17. 'To maintain the casing in properposition relatively to the heads 1717 and also to limit the separationof the latter, each of the heads 17 is provided'with a longitudinal slot29 on its exterior in which JE'GQIPIOCMZGS the inner end of a bolt orpin 30 secured to the casing.

The normal position of the parts is as shown in Fig. 1, wherein theheads 17 17 are separated a distance equal to the length-of stroke ofthe gear. Upon either bufl' or draft, it is apparentthat the heads 17-l7will be moved toward each other and as this action occurs, the platesl818, together with the spring 19 will be rotated or oscillated about ofthe casing 20 at both ends with the fol- I lowers 13 and 14. It willalso be noted that, as the heads 17-17 approach each other, there is atendency to shift the same laterally relative to each other. This causesthe heads 1717 to frictionally engage the casing 20 during the slidingmovement, ,one of sad heads being forced against the easing on one sideand the other head against the casing on the opposite side,'as indicatedin Figs. land 2. Upon release of the pres sure, the s ring 19 willexpand and 1n so doing it wlllforce the heads 17-17 apart. Dur ng thisexpanding action, it is apparent iii that the heads 17-17mm frictionallyengage the casing 20 and at the same time the plates 18 will slide withrespect to the heads 17. The amount of friction generated in thisrelease action automatically and elliciently serves to dampen therecoil, to thus minimize, the recoil shock and prolong the life of theparts. 4

Although I have herein shown and described what I now consider thepreferred embodiment of the invention, the same is merely illustrativeand l contemplate all changes and modifications coming within the scopeofthe claims appended hereto.

I claim v 1. In a spring dampener, the combination with a" pair ofoppositely arranged, normally separated heads, the latter havingrecesses on their opposed faces, each recess having a concave frictionsurface, of lates' frictionally engaging said surfaces an having convexfriction surfaces, a spring extending between said plates,-and afloating casing encircling said heads, said heads frictionally engagingsaid casing upon relative longitudinal movement between the heads.

2. In a spring dampener, the combination .with a pair, of headsrelatively longitudinally movable, said heads having recesses on theirinner faces, of plates slidably mounted Within said recesses, a springextending between said plates and adapted to be compressed upon relativeapproach of theheads, and a longitudinally movable casing encircling theheads and frictionally engaging the latter upon relative longitudinamovement thereof.

In witness that I'claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 31st day of August 1916.

JOHN F. OGONNOR..

